59 degrees, early voting, and Durant goes to Plant City

Good morning, East of Tampa.

Tuesday night drops to 59. That is the first real fall air of the year, and it sticks around. Sunny, low 80s, zero rain in the forecast through Friday.

So open the windows. Turn off the AC for a night. Go sit on the porch.

Halloween is 11 days out, early voting started yesterday, and Friday night has a crosstown game in Plant City. Here is what you need to know.

NEED TO KNOW

Early voting is open. Through Sunday, Nov. 1, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. every day. Closest sites: Bloomingdale Regional Library in Valrico, Riverview Public Library, Bruton Memorial Library in Plant City and Seffner-Mango Library. Want a mail ballot instead? The request deadline is 5 p.m. Thursday. Sites and ballots

FishHawk Blvd tunnel work started Monday. About six months, just east of FishHawk Ridge Dr, 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday. The north sidewalk by the sports complex is closed, so walkers use the south side and cross at FishHawk Crossing Blvd. Details

I-4 to I-75 ramps close at night. Eastbound I-4 to both directions of I-75, Tuesday through Thursday, 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. This week's closures

Dump the standing water. Hillsborough has 310 local dengue cases since July and the emergency runs through Thursday. Bloomingdale was treated from the air last week. Get spray alerts

16 National Merit semifinalists at Strawberry Crest. The most of any high school in the county. Dover is doing something right. More

FRIDAY NIGHT

Game of the Week: Durant at Plant City, 7:30. A crosstown district game. Plant City is 6-2 and one game behind unbeaten Lennard in the district. Durant is 4-4 and needs this one after Newsome got them 29-26 last Friday. Get there early.

Got a kid who had a night? Send us the stat line and the clip and we will put them on. Send it in

YOUR WEEK

Photo: Dinosaur World

Spooky, not scary. Jurassic Haunt at Dinosaur World in Plant City runs select nights through Nov. 1: glow trails, a haunted train ride and free face painting. It rates about a 1 out of 10 on their own scare scale. $19.95 online. Dates

Last weekend for the corn maze. Fox Squirrel Corn Maze in Plant City, Saturday and Sunday, 10 to 5. $15, 3 and under free. Bring cash; cards carry a 3% fee. Details

Trick or Treat Street, Saturday. 5 to 8 p.m. at Riverview High. A candy trail, costume contest, foam party, food trucks, a sensory area and a pirate ship. New this year: no line to get in. Details

Halloween week, planned. County parks run free trunk or treats Thursday, Oct. 29 in Bealsville and Friday, Oct. 30 in Seffner and Ruskin. Full list

REAL ESTATE CORNER

Tabatha's October in Plant City. Tabatha Pugh runs The Local Team, and her Plant City list for the rest of the month goes like this: Monster Mash at Plant City Stadium Friday and Saturday, Sir Henry's Haunted Trail through Nov. 1, and Last Friday downtown on Oct. 30 with a costume contest. Add Durant at Plant City on Friday night and that is a full week in town. Thinking about moving there, or moving up? Call Tabatha Pugh at 813-476-8457, or follow her Plant City list at @thelocalteamplantcity.

ONLY OUT HERE

Photo: Osprey Observer

A Valrico man builds arcade machines, and one went to The Price Is Right. Dennis Riese of Phantom Arcades has hand-built 51 custom cabinets since 2015, for names like The Undertaker and Joey Fatone. He left a New York City Transit job in 2022 to do it full time, from here. His story

OUR PARTNERS

Photo: Outdoor Lighting Perspectives of Brandon

Ask these five before anyone gets on your roof. Liability insurance, workers comp, a Florida registration, lights cut to fit, and takedown in writing. Outdoor Lighting Perspectives of Brandon checks every box, and we put the full list on one page so you can use it with any installer. Free design consultation: 813-755-4344.

PARTNER SPOTLIGHT

Photo: Prestige Pressure Washing & Detail

Clean the driveway before the lights go up. Every holiday photo happens in the driveway. Prestige Pressure Washing & Detail is Ben and Carrie Smith, Marine Corps veteran owned, right here in Brandon. Houses, pavers, pool cages and gutters, and they bring their own water. Veterans get 20% off, seniors 15%. Call (813) 438-6315.

First birthday, first dentist visit. That is the guideline. Little Fins Pediatric Dentistry is accepting new patients. Call (813) 454-0821.

Maid Pure Cleaning: houseguests coming for the holidays? Book the deep clean before they land. (813) 670-2004.

Fix It Today Plumbing: leaks, drains and water heaters. 813-743-7793.

Environmental Protective Solutions: mold and moisture after a wet summer. (813) 438-5937.

Magnolia Soap & Bath, Lithia: handmade, plant-based gifts, and soap-making parties for your group. 813-986-7835.

MVP Orthodontics: braces and aligners in Riverview. (813) 640-0220.

Osprey Observer: your free monthly paper, online any time.

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